CARTER PLEDGES AID TO HOUSE DEMOCRATS

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 — President Carter, who has been accused by Congressional Democrats of indifference to their political needs, pledged last week to use the powers of the White House to help them to win re‐election this tail.

The pledge was given at a long meeting last week with the 24 members of the House Deocratic Steering and Policy Committee some of whom expressed dismay at the continuing failure of the White House to involve them in Administration activities in their districts, according to several perosns who attended the meeting.

The President, who had called the session because of his concern over the expected loss of Democratic seats, told the committee members that the White House was planning a coordinated effort to assist Democratic incumbents seeking re‐electon.

He said that he would make appearances to advance the effort, and that Vice President Mondale and Cabinet officers would, too.

The effort will be coordinated by Hamilton Jordan, the President's principal political adviser, and Frank Moore, the President's chief aide for Congressional liaison, Mr. Carter told the group. Both men were present at the meeting.

Although Presidents customarily wage such campaigns to help Congressional candidates of their parties, this effort was viewed as evidence of Mr. Carter's continuing evolution as a political practitioner. Mr. Carter was elected as an outsider on an anti‐Washington platform and has tended to stress issues rather than the tactics of practical politics.

He announced this week that he would make a two‐day trip to Rhode Island, Maine and New Hampshire, where Democratic senators are campaigning for re‐. election. Jody Powell, Mr. Carter's press secretary, said that political considerations could well have been a factor in the President's plans.

Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, the majority leader, said at a news conference yesterday: “I expect the Presidtnt to do considerable campaigning for senatorial candidates. He has expressed his willingness to come into West Virginia and campaign for Senator Randolph, and I expect him . to campaign for any other senatorial candidates who invite him, as Presidents traditionally have done.”

The President told the Democratic representatives that he had called the meeting because in the last three off‐year electons the party of the incumbent President lost 47, 48 and again 48 House seats. He said that his problems with the present, heavily Democratic Congress could be exacerbated if that many Democratic seats were lost in the coming election.

He said that he had had a long discussion with the Cabinet earlier in the week on how to help Democratic incumbents this fall. He said that he wanted to be helpful in a well coordinated way and to make sure that the incumbents received credit for Administration grants, appointments and other activities in their districts.

Mr. Carter said that he intended to do some campaigning. This was welcomed by many present, but others were wary. “All of us ran 20 points ahead of the President,” one said later.

The President said that Cabinet. officers would also be available for campaigning. He noted, however, that three members of the Cabinet—the Secretaries of State, Defense and Treasury—were forbidden by law to participate in political campaigns. But he said that if one of them spoke in a Congressional district, the incumbent representative would be invited to introduce him.

Thomas P. O'Neill Jr., the Speaker of the House, praised Mr. Carter for exhibiting a feeling of warmth. Representative John Brademas of Indiana, the Democratic whip, said that he hoped Mr. Carter would be even more political.

Representative E. (Kika) de la Garza of Texas said that because several Texans were ready to retire, his state's delegation was regarded in some quarters as losing much of its power. He said that Republicans were seeking not only those seats but also all the rest.

Representative Dawson Mathis of Georgia noted that only one‐third of the Senate was up for re‐electon but that all of the seats in the House would be filled this fall. He expressed the hope that House members would have preference in receiving credit for White House. appointments, grants and other activities in their districts.

The President said that, having served in the Georgia Legislature, he appreciated Mr. Mathis's suggestion. He said that he had always been embarrassed when something was done in his district without his knowledge.

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A version of this archives appears in print on January 29, 1978, on Page 17 of the New York edition with the headline: CARTER PLEDGES AID TO HOUSE DEMOCRATS. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe